How Pheasants Came to South Dakota

The following is an excerpt from a letter written by Sister Eleanor Joyce after a family reunion.  She tells of her brother, Father Jim, who held Mass at the reunion, and how much it reminded her of the old days back in South Dakota and Mass being held by Father George MacConnachie.  Father MacConnachie was a Scottish immigrant who served St. Bernard's Church for his whole working life, as far as I know, and baptized, married and buried many generations of the Joyce family.  For more information on Father MacConnachie, click here.

Image courtesy of 24HourMoon, license

Sister Eleanor writes:

Fr. Jim celebrated Mass on the Saturday eve at which a large crowd was present on the lawn fronting the Viking Motel where everyone was staying.  Prior to the Mass, which could have reminded one of the parish at Burdette with all the relatives – Fallons, Joyces, Roaches – back in the 1920’s with Fr. MacConnachie, he told how the ring-neck pheasants came to be in South Dakota.  

Fr. Mac had brought pheasant eggs to these families who had them hatched via setting hens or incubators; appointed himself the chief game warden and the men of these families were deputy wardens.  Father had his own private hunting grounds and a parish unknown to Bp. O’Gorman!  Later railroad men scattered the pheasants over the country.  This year we have millions of them for excellent hunting in Hand, Spink, Brown counties and far beyond.

Then and Now - the Home of the Dr. Henry Seeman Family in Rockham, South Dakota

 

The home of Dr. Henry Seeman in Rockham was a grand house indeed.  But time has taken its toll.  Then: Between 1900 and 1920.  Now: 1998.

Corkins Auto Co. Garage - Rockham, SD - Then and Now

 

Corkins Garage in Rockham, South Dakota.  Then and Now. 

The Family of Laust (Lars) and Elsie Christensen of Denmark

 

Laust (Lars) Christensen and Elsie Kirstine Pedersen

This couple are the parents of my great-grandfather, Peter Christian Christensen, a Danish immigrant who founded the Bell Bakery in Huron, South Dakota.  That their story is complete to this extent shows the benefit of collaboration and thanks to everyone sharing their own family photos and research, we now have a much better understanding of their lives.

Laust (sometimes referred to as Lars) Christian Christensen was born 12 July 1856 at Døstrup, Hindsted Herred, Ålborg county of Denmark.  He was the only child of Christen Pedersen and Gjertrud Christensdatter, who both died young.

Elsie Kirstine Pedersen, daughter of Peder Christian Larsen and Jacobine Sørensdatter, was born 04 June 1859 in Hostruphúse, Hindsted Herred,  Ålborg county.

Laust and Elsie had twelve children, the first one born three months prior to their marriage, which took place on 27 November 1880 in Døstrup.  At this time, Laust was a lieutenant in the Danish army, but took a job as a "land post," the Danish equivalent to a mail man.  Elsie is described by her daughter Caroline as a "beautiful, proud woman," but also "hard" and not very affectionate toward her children.  Laust had tuberculosis and during the years he was sick Elsie did most of his work.  Laust succumbed to this disease on 31 March, 1901 at Døstrup.

Elsie struggled to care for her children.  The boys were sent to work as farmhands for other people, and the girls as household servants.  One by one, the older children (including my great-grandfather, Peter) came to the United States and worked to pay passage for their other siblings.  Eventually, Elsie and her second husband, Jens Eriksen, also immigrated and settled in the Omaha, Nebraska area.  From their, the children spread throughout the midwest, and several to California.  Elsie and Jens died in Omaha in the 1930s.

Only In Case Of Emergency

 

The opened envelope left by my great uncle Flight Officer Raymond Christensen in WWII saying, "Notify in case of emergency.  I guess you know these names and addresses inside as secret material only to be used in an emergency.  A card is sufficient."

 

It must have hurt my grandmother indescribably to have to tear open that envelope.

Karmel Korn

 

I can still smell it... walking through downtown Huron and smelling the Karmelkorn coming from the Karmelkorn Shop.   I loved that store!  It was one of my favorites in downtown Huron, besides Newberry's cafeteria with a window-side seat.    

Karmelkorn was a "new" confectionery in early 1931 when it first made its way to Huron.  It was sold at "The Delite Shop" just south of Huesgen's jewelry store.  It was to open at the end of April, managed by Zeno Haberman.  In the first advertisement, this new treat was described as "the new candy-coated popcorn... is always fresh, delicious."  Explaining how Karmelkorn is different, made from "snowball" popcorn with a luscious coating of candy made principally of sugar and butter, noting there is no molasses involved. It is sold only under the registered trade name of "Karmelkorn."

And furthermore, it was said to be a nutritious snack!

By 1941, The Delite Shop was selling more than Karmelkorn and ice cream.  Advertisements mention preparing dinners and by 1945 was apparently a restaurant, but must have continued to make some candy, as they advertised homemade fudge and divinity.  But no mention of Karmel Korn.

The Delite Shop changed ownership on Dec. 16, 1947.  Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Peck would dispose of their interest in the shop, after two years' ownership, to Curtis Jones.  But at that time it appeared to be a restaurant.

Enter the Cub Nut Hut that same year, owned by Mr. and Mrs. G. E. Baird.  Besides the Nut Hut, there was also a Cub Lunch also owned by the Bairds.  The Bairds continued with these businesses until April of 1950, when they sold the business to the new owners/managers, Frank and Alva Schmidt.  The new owners also assured the public that they will feature "Karmel Korn" and that they "are the only store in Huron" selling this confection.

In April of 1951, the Schmidts took out an ad in the Plainsman thanking everyone who patronized the Cub Nut Hut.  They were opening a new business, the Karmel Korn Shop, in the same location.  The Delite Shop was still in operation but made no mention of Karmel Korn in their advertisements.  Early in 1956, the entire stock of fixtures and equipment of the Delite Shop Cafeteria was sold and the business closed.

Besides the awesome treats sold within, the Karmel Korn Shop had the distinction of having President Truman poke his head inside the shop while on a visit to Huron.

How Karmel Korn came to be the feature of the Delite Shop and then the Cub Nut Hut, and finally the Karmel Korn Shop, is unknown.  But it's a treat I still miss.

Sources:

The Daily Plainsman, April 24, 1952

The Evening Huronite, April 24, 1931

The Evening Huronite, April 25, 1931

Huronite and Daily Plainsman, Dec. 12, 1947

Huronite and Daily Plainsman, Jan. 02, 1940

Huron City Directories - numerous issues from 1932-1957

Beadle County Honor Roll, 1917-1919

 NAMES OF MEN IN HONOR OF WHOM MEMORIAL CERTIFICATES WERE ISSUED BY THE SOUTH DAKOTA STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE

Transcribed from the Report of the State Council of Defense, South Dakota, 1917-1919

BEADLE COUNTY

Christian T. Hanson, Bonilla
Henry G. Joekheick, Hitchcock
Carl J. Eckberg, Huron
Earl E. Harvey, Huron
James Houska, Huron
David J. Powell, Vayland
Elmer C. Peterson, Vayland
Frank W. Shea, Wessington
Rudolph Koester, Wolsey
Albert R. Kuehn, Cavour
Arthur Cardwell, Huron
Geo. E. Finicle, Huron
Philip Hill, Huron
William Reaves, Huron
Fred A. Quiram, Virgil
Dudley V. Burns, Wessington
David A. Thompson, Wessington
Clifton D. Radcliffe, Wolsey